Recent reports indicate that Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 49 Palestinians, as medical authorities confirm rising casualties amid intensified warfare. This escalation marks the first deployment of tanks in Deir el-Balah since the onset of hostilities in October 2023.
On Monday, Israel initiated a ground offensive targeting southern and eastern parts of the city, which is currently overwhelmed with displaced people. This follows a military order compelling residents to evacuate westward toward the Mediterranean coast and south toward Khan Younis, forcing thousands to flee.
According to sources from Reuters, tank fire in the area struck homes and mosques, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals and injuries to several others. As Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from the ground, the sounds of gunfire resonated throughout the early morning as Israeli tanks moved into the region. “The entire city is under attack,” he noted, adding, “We barely managed to sleep last night.”
Abu Azzoum further highlighted that Israel’s air and ground forces, including jets and naval vessels, persist in their assaults on residential neighborhoods, demolishing homes and eliminating public spaces.
Many residents of Deir el-Balah have resorted to using donkey carts and various other means to escape the violence.
Intensified Warfare in Gaza
In the southern region of Khan Younis, at least five people, including a couple and their two children, tragically lost their lives in an airstrike while taking shelter in a tent, according to medical personnel. On the same day, four individuals seeking food assistance near a United States- and Israeli-supported distribution center were also killed.
Additional losses were reported, with five Palestinians perishing due to a separate barrage in Jabalia al-Balad in the northern district. The Palestine Red Crescent Society confirmed the recovery of one body and the evacuation of several wounded individuals following artillery strikes in the nearby Jabalia al-Nazla area.
Drone strikes in Gaza City added to the toll, with sources from al-Shifa Hospital reporting additional casualties. In just one day, earlier reports noted that 134 people died, while 1,155 were injured, raising the total number of casualties in Gaza to over 59,029 since the conflict began.
The dire humanitarian situation is exacerbated by reports of starvation, with authorities stating that at least 19 individuals succumbed to hunger just recently. The World Food Programme has expressed grave concerns over the potential for mass starvation among Palestinians in Gaza, warning of a humanitarian crisis that is deteriorating rapidly.
In an interview, Antoine Renard, the agency’s representative, emphasized the desperation in the region as civilians take extreme risks to access any available assistance. He stated, “The level of despair is unprecedented.”
Furthermore, UNRWA, which assists Palestinian refugees, revealed it is inundated with heartbreaking messages regarding starvation from inside Gaza. They implore for the lifting of the siege to allow aid to flow in adequately.
Amjad Shawa, leader of the Palestinian NGO Network, warned that around 900,000 children are facing various levels of malnutrition amidst the ongoing crisis. In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, 25 countries, including the United Kingdom and France, issued a joint statement calling for an immediate end to hostilities and compliance with international law from Israel.
The foreign ministers emphasized that “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels,” condemning the insufficient aid response and the ongoing killings of innocent civilians, including children. They stressed that Israel must adhere to its humanitarian obligations under international law.